author
Johannes Hendrik Been
1859–1930
Best known for adventurous historical stories for young readers, this Dutch writer also spent years preserving the history of his hometown, Brielle. His books often bring Dutch naval heroes and the past vividly to life.
2 Audiobooks
De Scheepsjongen van "De Gouden Leeuw"
by Johannes Hendrik Been
Maerten Harpertsz. Tromp: Een zeemanszoon uit de 17de eeuw
by Johannes Hendrik Been
About the author
Born in Brielle on February 8, 1859, Johannes Hendrik Been — who published as Johan Been — became a well-known Dutch writer of children's and youth literature. He was also respected as an archivist in Den Briel, a role that matched his lifelong interest in local and national history.
His fiction drew heavily on the Dutch past, especially seafaring history and patriotic adventure. He is particularly associated with Paddeltje, de scheepsjongen van Michiel de Ruyter, one of the works that kept his name alive for later generations of readers.
Been died in Brielle on December 23, 1930. What still makes him interesting is the way he combined storytelling with a deep affection for place and history, writing books that aimed to entertain young readers while introducing them to memorable figures and events from the Netherlands' past.